Chapter 31

"What position do you want to play when you join the Quidditch team…"

Char paused, thoughtful. In the original stories, the Seeker was always the star—Harry Potter's daring catches, the golden snitch glinting in the sun, the crowd holding its breath. It was the Seeker who decided when a match ended, sometimes after hours, sometimes after months. Char even remembered reading about a match that lasted over three months before the Snitch was finally caught!

But as much as the Seeker role sparkled, Char knew it wasn't the best fit for him. Hufflepuff already had Cedric Diggory, a brilliant Seeker. And Char's own strengths—his stamina, his strength, his resilience—wouldn't shine as a Seeker.

He thought about it for a moment longer, then looked up. "Beater," he said, his voice steady.

It wasn't the most glamorous position, but it was vital. Beaters controlled the Bludgers, protecting their teammates and disrupting the other team's rhythm. Char's strength and endurance would make him a formidable presence on the pitch.

Professor Sprout's eyes softened with nostalgia. For a moment, she seemed lost in memory. "Your father was a Beater, too," she whispered. "He and your mother were Quidditch teammates, and they fell in love on the field. I used to watch their matches from this very window. Every time Hufflepuff scored, your father would wave to me."

She clenched her hands, her voice trembling. "I remember it all so clearly. It feels like yesterday… But then Dolohov destroyed everything. Your parents should have had a bright future. They were so young…"

Tears welled in her eyes, and Char saw that she was squeezing her palms so tightly that a few drops of blood had appeared.

Char's heart ached for her. He stepped closer, his voice gentle. "Aunt… Even if Azkaban can't stop Dolohov, I promise you—one day, he'll pay for what he did."

But Professor Sprout gripped Char's hand, her eyes fierce with worry. "No, Char. Promise me you'll never go after Dolohov. If you ever meet him, run. Run, and let me be the one to face him. I can't lose you, too."

Char nodded, silent. He knew she was right—Dolohov was a monster, feared even by the bravest Aurors. No one would believe that a boy with weak magical talent could ever stand against such a foe. But Char didn't make promises lightly. He would keep working, keep growing stronger—one spell, one plant at a time.

After a quiet goodbye, Char returned to the greenhouse. The familiar rows of magical plants and the gentle glow of reward orbs calmed his mind. He lost himself in the rhythm of farming, casting spells, and tending to his precious crops.

"Lumos!" he called, and the light of the Fluorescent Charm danced over the beds of glow mushrooms. The mycelium seemed to shimmer with happiness, the reward orbs growing larger and brighter every day.

Char washed his hands, noticing a faint red stain—his aunt's blood from her earlier grip. He rinsed it away, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

A week passed in peaceful routine. With Malfoy finally put in his place, Char could focus on his true passion. Each night, he spent hours in the greenhouse, watching the glow mushrooms grow stronger. Some mycelium had even begun to sprout tiny caps, the first sign that maturity was near.

"In just over a week, these glow mushrooms will be ready for harvest," Char thought, satisfaction warming his chest.

He checked his system panel. No new goldfish spider plants had matured—Hannah and Neville's latest batches still needed time. His Magic Perception Enhancement was just shy of bronze level. But there was progress elsewhere: the Pruning Spell's bronze shimmer was almost entirely silver now, and the Fluorescent Spell was nearly bronze as well. Soon, he would have another silver-level spell, and perhaps his third after the mushrooms matured.

Char smiled, his anticipation growing. He forced himself to stay calm, focusing on the present. There was still work to do.

Then, something caught his eye—a small patch of mycelium, darker than the rest, tinged with deep red. He bent closer, curiosity piqued.

A line of text appeared above the patch:

[The glow mushrooms you cultivated have undergone an unknown mutation]

Char's heart skipped a beat. What could this mean? He leaned in, ready to face whatever surprise his magical garden had in store.

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